Dinner, an Amazing Market, Woodstock Vermont and Lunch

…continuing with our adventures from our trip in August 2018.

Following our visit to the President Calvin Coolidge Vermont State Historical Site in Plymouth Notch, we headed back to Rutland for dinner.

This is Gill’s Deli in Rutland Vermont.  We’d decided to keep it simple for dinner and Gill’s has a very positive reputation in this city.  The restaurant was opened in July of 1964 by Ned and Veda Gilligan.  Almost 54 years later, the family continues to operate this local icon…not a bad run, that’s for sure!

This is Gill's food prep area.  The staff moves quickly and efficiently to deliver customer orders.  Everyone was friendly and most customers were regulars.  You order at one counter and then pick up your food when it’s ready.

The dining area is simple and straightforward.  When we arrived there was just a short line of customers placing their orders.  The line grew significantly while we were eating!

This was Laurie’s dinner.  If I remember correctly, it’s a ‘small’ Hot Italian Meats Grinder. 

Gill’s Deli is all about grinders!  They do offer sandwiches, pizza, a couple of basic Italian specialties and a plethora of salads but about half of the menu is focused on grinders. 

I put together a ‘large’ combo of my own with turkey, cheese, pepperoni and ham.  It was huge!  You do get a lot of food for the money at Gill’s.

Four sizes of grinders are offered.  Mini, Small, Large and Giant.  Prices range from $5.45 for a mini with ‘mild meats’ up to $16.05 for a ‘giant’ with 100% Maine crabmeat. 

We enjoy local joints, delis and taverns.  It’s always a nice change from the usual tourist centered places.  However, we thought that despite its reputation, the ‘secret seasoned oil’ used on the grinders lacked much distinctive flavor…but we do like spicier food more than most people.  Also, we’re just not fans of shredded lettuce and our sandwiches were heaped with it. (Note: A reader has corrected me...it isn't shredded lettuce, it's shredded cabbage)

If you’re visiting Rutland, give Gill’s Deli a try.  It is a local success story that locals love!  Gill’s Delicatessen is located at 68 Strongs Avenue in Rutland Vermont.  Phone: 802-773-7414.  Website: http://gillsdeli.com/.

I’m not a shopper… But I do appreciate stores that are truly different and a notch above others that are trying to satisfy consumer’s needs, offer top quality, and more importantly, activate shopper’s aesthetic shopping instincts.   

The Woodstock Farmer’s Market hit all the shopping ‘hot buttons’ for us!

Everywhere we looked, it was ‘eye candy’.  What a great looking market!  The produce was spectacular and the deli counter was more than tempting.

Viewing the plethora of cheeses, bacon and other packaged meats was like torture for us road warriors!  

Can you believe how appealing this produce display was!

How about these cases loaded with tarts, donuts, cookies, brownies, bagels, croissants, cupcakes, pies, cakes and more…Wow!

How about a meal before partaking in some dessert?  The Woodstock Market’s Kitchen and Bakery serve a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, hot lunch entrees and dinner selections too.

Tons of cheesy options with more sausage on top of the display case plus jams and jellies on the shelves at the back of the photo.

To further torture Laurie, the Woodstock Market was also selling a nice selection of beautiful flowering plants…that we couldn’t take back with us!

The Market was really busy when we visited.  As per their website, this store employs between 40 and 50 people.  If you’re in the area, this shopping opportunity is worth the stop. 

The good news is that a variety of products are offered on-line for us out of towners.  The Woodstock Farmer’s Market is located at 979 Woodstock Road in Woodstock Vermont.  They are closed on Mondays.  Phone: 802-457-3658.  Their website is found at: https://woodstockfarmersmarket.com/. 

Despite my efforts, I couldn’t find much information about this old railroad depot at 60 Pleasant Street in Woodstock Vermont.  It was the terminus of the Woodstock Railroad, a short line that operated over 14 miles of track between Woodstock and White River Junction where it connected with the Central Vermont Railroad. 

Since the Woodstock Railroad was completed in 1875, I found a listing of historic buildings in Woodstock that shows that this classic and architecturally interesting depot was actually completed in 1893.  The railroad operated from 1875 until it was abandoned in 1933.  A total of 350 people bought tickets for that last trip.

My question is why hasn’t someone done more to preserve this depot?  From all that we saw around town, it isn’t a poor community.  I checked and in 2010 Woodstock Village residents reported a household median income of $95,577 although the township and county median incomes were not as robust.

Woodstock Vermont is an attractive little town and it appears to be a “shopper’s paradise”.  As I noted above, it's also rather prosperous.  In the photo above, the building on the right at 18 Elm Street is The Village Butcher.  This store has been in operation since 1973…46 years!  In addition to meat, they serve coffee, bagels, muffins, deli salads and sandwiches…plus they have a selection of wines.  Website: https://www.villagebutchervt.com/.

The store at the left is F.H. Gillingham and Sons.  This general store at 16 Elm Street opened in this building back in 1886, (133 years ago), and it’s still operated by the founders great grandsons!  To learn more about this store and to shop on-line, just go to https://www.gillinghams.com/. 

In this photo, the stone front building at the far right at 13 Elm Street is one of five retail locations for the Vermont Flannel Company.  This family owned business is committed to the Made in USA Movement and has been since 1991.  Of course, if you’re so inclined, you can shop on-line at https://www.vermontflannel.com/.   

FYI, there is an 1,128 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom apartment above the Vermont Flannel Company.  Rent is $1,300 month.  What a great downtown location close to shops and restaurants!

The large old building at the left of this photo at 21 Elm Street is occupied by a branch of TD Bank.  The appropriately named Bank Block was built in 1868.

This is Bentley’s Restaurant at 3 Elm Street in Woodstock.  Originally, a wood-framed hotel dominated this corner at Central and Elm Streets.  The Village Hotel was built in 1796.  However, in March of 1867, the hotel and everything else on the north side of Central Street the buildings down Elm Street burned to the ground.  To learn more about the early days in the central business area for Woodstock, you can go to https://www.woodstockhistorycenter.org/the-village-hotel/.

The current structure, called the Fairbanks Block, was built in 1873.  Established in 1976, Bentley’s was transformed from a florist shop, then to an ice cream café and then to a full service restaurant operation.  Live music is offered as is dancing.  Website: http://bentleysrestaurant.com/.

We were looking for something different for lunch so we wandered on down Woodstock’s Central Street until we came to the Soulfully Good Café.  Located at 67 Central Street, the Café offers organic dining options. 

FYI, this restaurant is located in the Miles-Marsh-Jones Block which was built in 1829. 

The café is very informal and it was quite busy.  Customers stand in line to place their orders and food is delivered to your table when it’s ready. 

As is fitting in a semi self-serve restaurant, the dining room is very casual.  As shown in the first photo, outdoor seating is an option.

Our choices for lunch included the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Salad sandwich on a Croissant ($11.00) and the Herb Rubbed Flank Steak with Roasted Cipollini and Local Vermont Cheddar on House made ciabatta bread. ($12.00)

The food was OK but not anything special.  To learn more about this restaurant, go to http://www.soulfullygood.com/index.html.

Fire destroyed the Stone Mill buildings at 47 – 55 Central Street in July of 2018.  The old building complex was occupied by Pi Brick Oven Trattoria and considerable damage was also done to the Vermont Standard’s offices.  The loss was set at about $1,000,000.  It was determined that the fire was an arson…

Note: The Village of Woodstock has a population of about 860 people.  The town (township) itself has about 3,000 residents.  Woodstock is the county seat of Windsor County, population about 55,500.

The sign on this clapboard building in downtown Woodstock states that it’s called the Morgan Block and that it was built in 1869.  I didn’t get the address.  It was unoccupied and up for sale or lease.

This is the Gilman Block.  It was built in 1869.  The business at the right is The Cover Gift Shop and Apothecary at 10 Elm Street.  They have been in business since 1928 and in 2018 they launched Clover Apothecary, a source for holistic health and wellness products.  Their website is at https://www.clovergiftshop.com/.

The store at the left is The Woodstock Gallery and it’s at 6 Elm Street. In business for over 20 years, this art gallery offers works ranging from fine art to folk art.  They are currently listing 26 artists on their website.  Works include paintings, stoneware, porcelain, earthenware, jewelry, sculpture and woodcarving.  Website: http://www.woodstockgalleryvt.com/.

Even the local optical shop, (complete with an optometrist), provides a special shopping experience.  Eyes on Elm, at 23 Elm Street, offers a wide array of frames and styles…many of them that you’d never find in a ‘usual’ optical store.  Even the interior of the store is unique.  Check it out at http://www.eyesonelm.com/.  FYI, Eyes on Elm is located in the 1868 Greene Block.

This is the Woodstock History Center, the home of Woodstock’s Historical Society.  The society was founded in 1942.  In 1943 the organization purchased this Federal style home at 26 Elm Street to serve as their museum.  The Charles Dana House was built in 1807.  Dana was a prosperous merchant in town and the home remained in the Dana family until the Historical Society bought it.

To learn more about the Woodstock History Center and the Society, just go to https://www.woodstockhistorycenter.org/.

FYI…The Woodstock Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.  It includes the village center and encompasses 95 buildings, sites and structures on 275 acres.  The town received its charter in 1761.

 

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by and continuing to explore with us!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave